This article is the second in a three-part spotlight series exploring how local ventures in Moldova and Ukraine are advancing green innovation. The series is published as part of the BOOST: Green Futures Challenge – an initiative led by UNDP with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. Read the first article exploring circular experiments in waste, packaging, and materials.
The lights don’t always stay on in Ukraine and Moldova. Whether it’s damaged infrastructure as a result of the war, grid overload, or the rising cost of imported energy, power today feels more precarious than ever.
In response, a new generation of innovators is stepping up with local solutions. They’re redesigning how energy is generated, stored, and used – often in ways that are greener, smarter, cleaner, and built for crisis. And they’re doing it not in spite of the challenges – but because of them.
Energy citizenship in action: Virtual power plants for the people
In Moldova, where most electricity is still imported and grids remain fragile, Proton Energy Solutions, one of the winners of the BOOST: Green Futures Challenge, is flipping the system on its head. Led by Afanasi Chihaioglo, the company is building Moldova’s first AI-powered virtual power plant – a decentralized platform that connects everyday consumers to the energy balancing market.
Households and small businesses can earn money by adjusting when and how they consume energy. In moments when the grid is under strain, the platform automatically shifts consumption to off-peak times – for example, by preheating homes or pausing electric vehicle charging – without any disruption to comfort or routine.
“We’re trying to ensure that green energy doesn’t go to waste,” says Chihaioglo. “There’s a mismatch between when renewable energy is generated and when it’s needed. Our platform helps solve that – and lets people become active participants in the energy system.”
By smoothing out demand, Proton’s model estimates it can reduce energy use by up to 20%, cut household energy bills by 30–40%, and significantly lower emissions – all while paving the way for Moldova to absorb more renewables into its grid. Though still in early stages, the venture is gaining traction – including active discussions with Moldova’s Energy Ministry to help shape the legal framework for a more participatory, AI-enhanced energy future.
Building for uncertainty: Modular batteries for better energy storage
In Ukraine, where energy blackouts have become a grim part of daily life, Infinity Magnitude Batteries is designing a local response: durable, modular storage systems that can help provide energy supply in unpredictable conditions.
“My apartment has no power right now,” says founder Mykola Aliyev, matter-of-factly. “But this isn’t just a wartime problem. Power outages are happening around the world – from Moldova to Portugal to the U.S. It’s a global issue. What we’re building is a long-term solution.”
Infinity’s innovation lies in their use of solid-state battery technology, which promises longer lifespans, greater safety, and a cleaner environmental footprint compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries widely used in electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems.
These batteries are modular and adaptable – powering everything from homes to warehouses. And unlike many industrial batteries on the market, they’re built with no cobalt or nickel, reducing dependency on scarce and often unethically sourced materials.
“Our aim is to replace not just lead-acid batteries or diesel generators,” says Aliyev, “but also to offer something fundamentally better – safer, longer-lasting, and truly local.”
In a market dominated by imports, Infinity is showing that effective, scalable solutions can be built at home – by small teams, responding directly to community needs.
E-mobility with a mission: Renter’s bikes for work and dignity
While some innovations in Moldova and Ukraine are directly responding to energy disruptions, others are building resilience by meeting social and economic needs often ignored. One of those is Renter E-Bike, which is rethinking urban mobility for the migrant workers powering Europe’s delivery economy.
“We’re solving a real-world problem for people who often get overlooked,” says Daniel Trohin, Renter’s co-founder and CEO. “Most delivery riders are immigrants. They arrive without savings, and an e-bike – the most efficient, sustainable option – is usually out of reach.”
Renter provides an all-in-one subscription model: riders get access to rugged, puncture-proof, GPS-enabled e-bikes purpose-built for long delivery shifts. The company’s in-house software platform handles maintenance, logistics, and performance tracking, helping keep repair costs low and uptime high.
But it’s more than just mobility. It’s about giving riders a chance to work safely, earn better, and avoid debt. “Some of our customers are sending money home while paying off loans they took just to get here,” says Trohin. “If we can help them earn more, faster – while replacing cars or fuel scooters with clean e-bikes – that’s a win for people and the planet.”
The impact can add up fast: each Renter bike in use is estimated to avoid up to 7 tonnes of CO₂ per year to reduce air pollution, and the company’s battery recycling efforts are closing the loop even further – offering access, dignity, and decarbonization all in one.
Investing in energy independence: Power IT’s MCrowd Platform
What if clean energy projects didn’t depend on grants, government funds, or global investors – but on the communities who need them most?
That’s the idea behind MCrowd, rebranded from GreenCrowd during the BOOST Program – a new crowdfunding platform launched by Power IT to unlock Moldova’s renewable potential by making solar and wind investments accessible to citizens and the diaspora. As Michael Gutu, the CEO, puts it: “We wanted to create a tool where people could co-create Moldova’s energy future – not just wait for someone else to fix it.”
Moldova’s diaspora sends back more than €1.5 billion in remittances every year – but until now, there’s been no structured, transparent way to invest those funds in local infrastructure or clean energy. MCrowd changes that – the platform is fully regulated, equipped with escrow protections, and allows even small contributions to back vetted green projects.
“You can log in, invest in a solar project, and track everything – from emissions reduced to power generated,” says Gutu. “It’s accessible, it’s secure, and it makes energy transition something everyone can co-create.”
Even before the full public launch, early modelling shows potential: with just three megawatts of solar, MCrowd could reduce 15,000 tonnes of CO₂ over three years and mobilize €1 million in local investment. The platform also strengthens community resilience, allowing municipalities and residents to build energy assets that reduce reliance on imported electricity.
As Moldova accelerates toward greater energy independence, Gutu sees a new kind of energy actor emerging – citizens as co-investors, not just consumers.
Rewiring the future
These ventures – different in size, scope and sector – are all solving versions of the same problem: how to build cleaner, fairer, more resilient energy systems from the ground up.
Some are tackling storage, others access. Some are rewriting the rules of participation; others are rethinking the tech itself. But what connects them is the need for urgency. They offer a powerful reminder: energy resilience isn’t just about the grid. It’s about people.
